Little Ongava
Little Ongava is the super-luxurious, exclusive sibling of Ongava Lodge, within the same private 300km2 Ongava Game Reserve on the southern boundary of Etosha National Park. Set on the crest of a hill, the lodge overlooks the reserve, which boasts a wide range of wildlife including lion and rhino.
With just 3 large suites, Little Ongava is a very private lodge with very personal service. Each spacious stone-and-thatch suite is divided into three main areas, all cleverly lit and separated by a series of wooden sliding doors. The bedroom forms the centre of the room, and behind is a separate dressing room. To one side is the lounge, where comfortable armchairs face an open fireplace and drinks are kept cool in the minibar. Glass doors in the lounge and bedroom slide back for access to a private deck complete with its own infinity pool.
Wooden walkways wind around rock boulders to link the suites to the relaxed main thatched area. Here a large lounge furnished with a library and a stone fireplace opens out onto a large viewing deck which overlooks a waterhole below. This is a great spot for a sundowner drink and on our last visit we watched a rhino and her calf come to drink, followed by two lions. Guests may dine under the sky or under the cover of a thatched roof. Ongava Lodge also has a small open-sided chapel that can be used for weddings.
Activities at Little Ongava include day and spotlit night drives in open 4WD game-drive vehicles. Morning drives usually head into Etosha National Park whilst afternoon drives take place on the Ongava Reserve. Visitors can also opt to go on guided safari walks or sit in the nearby hide waiting quietly for animals to pass or drink from the waterhole.